Control mechanism for milling planers or other machines



CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MILLING PLANERS OR OTHER MACHINES N A R O D E l Filed April 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l y 1937. .1. E. DORAN 2,079,735

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MILLING PLANERS OR OTHER MACHINES Filed April '5. 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NI/EN ran? ,AZ M,

May. ,1937. J. E. DORAN 2,079,735

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MILLING PLANERS OR OTHER MACHINES Filed April 5, 1935 :s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR.

' UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE "CONTROL MECHANISM- FOR IVIILL'ING PLANERS OR OTHER MACHINES John E. Doran, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The G. A. Gray Company, Cincinnati, Ohio Application April 5, 1935, Serial No. 14,947

20 Claims. (01. 29-30) The first object of my invention is to provide an arrangement which affords great flexibility of controlof the several motors which .drive the different elements of ,milling planers.

A second object of my invention is to provide a control with a minimum. number of pilot switches and auxiliary control devices, thus greatly reducing the cost and complexity of wiring such control devices. I

A third object of my invention is to provide .a control so simple to operate that anyone who understands the operation of an ordinary planer;

may, with but little instruction, become an efficient operator of a milling planer.

. A fourth object of my invention is to provide a type of control that will; as far as possible, protect milling planers from damage due to improper operation of the control devices. v A fifth object of my invention is to provide convenient and handy controls for the various moving parts of a milling planer.

A sixth object of my invention is to provide controls whereby a milling planer can be changed in a few seconds from a reversing motor planerhaving intermittentfeeds to the planing heads,

l to a milling machine having suitable continuous feeds to both the table and the milling heads, or changed conversely from a milling machine to a planer, with equal facility.

My objects further include the reduction of the cost of electrical equipment necessary to control milling planers.

The following description is for the application of my invention to milling planers. I It will be understood; however, by those familiar with the art, that my' invention is equally applicable in any casewhere a plurality' of motors are used to operate a plurality of moving parts in any sort of mechanism which' requires control of the type specified.

A milling planer is a machine tool similar to the usual double housing or openside planer, which is provided with one or more milling heads as well as one or more planing heads, together with suitable driving and feeding mechanism,

so that work may be readily milled and planed in the same setting. This requires that the table ofthe machine be reciprocated at suitable 'cutting speeds by power when the machine is used for planing; and that the table or the milling heads be moved; at suitable feeding speeds by rapidtraverse. When positioning the work or milling cutters and for setting ,-up for boring and drilling operations, which may also be done on milling planers, it is desirable to move the table or milling head very slowly into place by power so as to position the work or the head with great accuracy. rAll these features ordinarily require expensive control equipment, but they are accomplished in a simple and inexpensive manner by means of my invention. K v

In my invention, I make use of certain devices already well known in the art which in this disclosure I will designate as pilot members, or pilot switches, relays, interlocks, safety contact members and selectors. In order to more clearly explain the invention, .these devices are defined as follows:

A pilot member is any control device used in connection with a machine, (specifically an electric switch of any type) manually operated or parts.

A relay is a control device used to aifect-the 'operationof one or more control devices, usually of larger capacity than the relay. Specifically,

a relay is an electromagnetic switch used to affeet the operation of one or more electromagnetic switches, usually of larger capacity than the relay. A relay may be used to affect itself inaddition to other control devices.

A selector is a switch or combination of switches having two ormore operative positions, and having a plurality of both movable and stationary contacts, the said movable contacts being so interconnected, and the said stationary contacts being so connected to control devices, that the sequence of operation, the devices controlled, or the effect of the control devices, change with a change in the operative position of the selector.

A selector may be manually operated, or operated electromagnetically from remote control. For mechanical convenience, it may be divided into parts; the position of the principal'part determining whether the other parts shall be energized or deenergized, and so determine their positions.

,, An electrical interlock is a pole of a multiple pole switch, which may be a relay or contactor, adapted to affect the operation of the switch to which it is attached, or the operation of one or more other switches.

A contactor is an electromagnetic switch designed to make and break electrical circuits carrying currents of sufficient magnitude to operate an electric motor. Relays and contactors usually,.

ing coil energized and that it reacts when the.-

contacts assume the positions they would tend to have with the actuating coil deenergized.

A safety contact member is a pilot member which, when actuated by the movement of 'amanually operable or a power driven element of a mechanism, actuates control devices which prevent the initiation or continuance of a dangerous or undesirable movement of the mechanism.

Control devices consist of pilot members, relays, -and contactors, together with suitable impedances, so interconnected as to function in controlling the starting, the stopping, and if desired, the speed and direction of rotation, of a motor or motors.

A preferred arrangement of my control is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in. which Fig. 1 is a pseudo-perspective view showing the principal parts of a milling planer.

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits.

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the automatic clutch elements.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings and disclosure, relays and contactors are referred to by the same number as their principal or actuating coils, and their various pairsof contacts are referred to by attaching a letter to the number of the operating coil. Auxiliary coils are referred to by prefixing a letter to the .number of the principal or actuating coil, which is also the number of the relay or contactor. Thus, coil I5 is the principal or actuating coil of contactor l5, which has several pairs of contacts such as l5-a, l5--b, and l5c, and a lookout coil Ll5.

Referring to Fig. l, a table H is slidably mounted on a bed I02 to, which are afiixed housings Hi3 which support crossrail I04 carrying planer head I05 and millingv head I06. A motor I is operatively connected to the planer shaft which actuates the table in a manner well known to those familiar with the art. r

In Fig. 2, the contacts are shown with the selector in position to operate the machine as a planer, and all circuits deenergiz'ed.

In Fig. 1 reference numeral 1 designates the 4 -h in the supply lines, reset push button 5 is' momentarily pressed, energizing the reset coil 6,

which closes the reset relay contacts 6-41. When button 5 is released, the circuit of coil 6 is maintained through resistor l and contacts 6a. The closing of contacts 6a connects the control bus Y to knife switch 4b, thus energizing coil 8 which is part of a shunt field contactor.

contacts 8 b, thus energizing shunt fields l-F and 2-'F. Coil 9 is also energized. thus opening an emergency dynamic braking circuit at contacts 9-41 and connecting the armature bus VW to the reversing bus TU by closing contacts 9-b. Coil 10 being now energized from the control bus Y through the normally closed contacts of. push buttons ll, l2, and IS, the relay contacts pressed. Assuming that button I2 is pressed to move the table in the cut direction, coil I 4 and coil I5 are both energized, opening contacts l5a, and closing contacts |4-a, |5b'and l5c, thus energizing armature i with series field IS in the circuit, causing the armature to rotate and to drive the table in the cut direction. Contactor coil I6 is energized at the same time as armature l, closing contacts Iii-a which remain closed as long as there is an appreciable counter-electromotive force generated by armature I.

Whenbutton i2 is released, coils l4 and I5 are deenergized, causing contacts l'4-a,, l5-b and l5--c toopen and contacts 'i5-a to close, deenergizing armature l, and completing the circuit of armature I through dynamic braking resistor ll, thus bringing the armature quickly to rest. When. the armature ceases rotating, the counter-electromotive force disappears, coil I6 is deenergized, and contacts |E .a open. It may be noted that contactor i6 is specially designed so that it will not open until the E. M. F. is extremely low. Such contactor are already well known in the art.

If button i3 is pressed instead of button l2,

coils l4 and I8 are energized, opening contacts 98-41, and closing contacts Ma, 3-D and I8- 0, thus energizing the armature of motor I, which drives the table in the return direction in exactly the same way as described above for the out direction, except that series field IS" is used in lieu of IS. L-I5 and L-IB are lockout coils on contactors i5 and I8 respectively, and they prevent .opening of the dynamic braking circuits, once these circuits are established, until the dynamic braking cycle is completed. The use of coils for this purpose is common in the art, and needs no further explanation.

Jogging operations are of comparatively short duration and it is desired that they movethe table slowly and always at the same speed regardless of the setting of the field rheostats either jog button 12 or I3 is pressed, coil I0 is deenergized, opening contacts l'll-a which prevents coil H! from being energized, which pre- This, ,opens field discharge contacts 8-11, and closes l1c and l-rr, which are the cut and return vents accelerating contact l9 a from closing,

and thus retains starting resistance 20 in the circuit of armature l. Electrical interlock |9--b also remains open, preventing coil 2| from being energized and contacts 21-41 from'. closing.

The normally open relay contacts 2l-a prevent coil 22 from becoming energized, preventing contacts 22a and 22-12 from opening, and as until the pull of lockout coil L-'l8 decreases to. such value that it is overcome by the pull of available on any given motor.

If it is desired to r ciprocate the table automatically between the mits determined by dogs I D2! and D-38 (Fig. 1) which are adjustably mounted on the table, such operation may be started either in the cut ,direction or in the ref turn direction by pressing button 23 or 24 respectively'. If button 23 is pressed to'startauto matic operation in the cut direction, energy flows from positive control bus X, through automatic pilot member 25-a, through selector switch contacts 26, through relay contacts l0b, auxiliary control bus Z, automatic pilot member 2I-a,-

the now closed contacts of button 23, the nor-,..

mally closed contacts lB-b, relay coil 28, the

I normally closed relay contacts 29-a to negative control bus Y. Coil 28 closes relay contacts 28.a, establishing a holding circuit through the normally closed contacts of push button 11 and I8, relay contacts Ill-c, resistor :30, relay contacts 28-11, selector switch contacts 3l,.electrical interlock 32 0, coil 28 and contacts 29-'a, to to control bus Y. .This circuit prevents coil 29 from being deenergized after button 23 is .re-

' leased.

Coil 33 .is energized by the closing of 28-4), thus closing relay contacts 33-41, 33-1) and 33,- c. The closing of 33-41 energizes coil l4 through auxiliary bus Z, selector switch contacts 34, .35, and electrical interlock 36- 0, to negative control bus Y. Electrical interlock 36-11 is always closed when the machine is ,used 'as a planer, as A will be shown later. Contacts l4-w now close, and armature l is thereby connected to the armature bus VW. At the same time, relay contacts 33-c energize cut contactor coil 15, through relay contacts 33-41 and 33-0, the closed contacts of button 24, pilot member contacts 2|-b, selector switch contacts 3], coil I5, electrical interlock I84 to negative control bus Y. Contacts l5b and l5-c now close and start planer, J motor l on the cut stroke, and the operation of the motor continues even after button 23 is released. When the starting current decreases to a predetermined value, coil l9 closes contacts IS -(Z in the manner already well known in the art, which shunts the starting resistor 20, ,lthus putting full line voltage on armature j'. Contacts l9 b also close, energizing relay coil 2| which closes contacts 2l--a, which in turn energizes field contactor coil 22, opening. contacts 22-41, thus inserting field rheostat |1c in the shunt field circuit. The setting of this rheostat determines the cutting speed. The operation of motor I continues until the table dog D--2| The closing of the electrical interlock l5-d' causes'coil I8 to become energized by establishing a circuit from auxiliary controlbus Z through relay contacts 33--a and 33-,50, the closed contacts of push button 23;automatc pilot member contacts 38-0, relay contacts 28c, coil I8, and electrical interlock |5--d to the negative control bus Y. However, the contactor It does not act coil I8. When contactor l8acts, contacts l8--b and I8-c close, causing the planer motor I to, drive the table in the return direction.. When the dog that operates automatic pilot member '21 strikes the pilot member again. on the return stroke, it re,-closes the contacts 21-h, so that 21-2: is again in position to energize contactor l5 when automatic pilot member 38 is operated toopen its contacts 38a at the end of the return stroke, at which time itdeenergizes con-, tactor l8- which closes contacts lB-d, complet ing the circuit through coil l5 as before.

The planer feed is driven by motor 2 whenever the table is in operation controlled by the automatic pilot members 21 and 38. The actual amount of feed and the method of varying it is determined by mechanical means which is not a part of my invention, and therefore will not be described here. Suffice it to say that thefeed occurs during the first part of one stroke and is reset during the first part of the other stroke as is general practice in planer design. The feed motor 2 is operated as follows. i

The coil 39 of feed motor selector contactor 39 is energized from the auxiliary control bus Z switch contacts 40, pilot member 4|, which serves as a feed limiting device, coil 39, and pilot member 42, to the negative control bus Y. Pilot member 42 preventsoperation of the feed motor if the machine is operated as a planer, and if hand lever P-42 is in position to-g'ive continuous feed to the tool heads. Thus it may also be termed a safety contact member. Contactor 39 now acts,

opening dynamic .braking contacts 39a and closing armature bus, contacts 39b. The arma- "ture of feed motor 2 is therefore-connected to the armature bus VW and in parallel with arma-' through relay contacts 33a and 3 3-b, selector ture I through reversing switch 43, selector switch contacts 44 and 45, .and contacts 39-17.

The feed motor thus starts, brakes, stops, and

reverses automatically in synchronism with'motor l. It.should be noted that the feed motor 2 v remains stationary whenever motor I is jogged, thereby making it unnecessary for the operatorto mechanically disengage the feed mechanism before jogging. This is .an important advantage gained by my invention. The reversing switch 43 permits changing the direction of rotation of motor 2 with respect to motor I, and thus permits selection of the stroke, either cut stroke or return stroke, on which the feed occurs. Clutches or similar mechanical devices are provided by the planer builder to mechanically engage and disengage the feed from the several feed screws and feed rods, but as they are not part of my invention they are not described here.

If the feed continues until the head strikes and opens automatic pilot member 4|, contactor 39 opens, and motor 2 is brought quickly to rest by for changing from continuous feed for milling, to

,intermittent feed for planing, and vice versa.'

It prevents the feed motor 2 from operating when the machine is used as aplaner if; the operator should absent-mindedly leave the feed change lever P-42 in the milling feed position.

'P42 (Fig. 1), which is'the mechanical means To stop automatic operation ofmotors l and 2, the momentary pressing of button H deenergizescoil l0, thus momentarily opening relay contacts Ill-a, ill-b, and ill-c, thereby retur ing relays 28 and 33, also contactors l5, l8, i4, 39 'and I9to the starting condition and both motors are brought quickly to rest by dynamic braking in the manner described above.

If, during the operation of the machine, the voltage supply should fail for-any reason, the control bus is deenergized, causing all relays and contactors to return to the starting position,

except contactor l6 which is energized for a time by the counter-electromotive force of armature I. The closing of contacts 8-a short circuitshunt field l-F, preventing a rapid decay'of field excitation; thus assisting in providing flux for.

emergency braking. The closing of contacts 9a completes an emergency dynamic braking circuit through lockout coil L'9, resistor 41, contacts 48a or 48-12, series ,field IS" or ISL, contactslG-a and the armature of l. The series fields IS and IS" have opposing fluxes and 2 it is necessary that the field whichaugments the decaying flux of shunt field h-F be inserted in the emergency braking circuit. This is accomplished by contactor 48, the coil of which is energized from the armature bus 'VW only when the motor is driving the table on the cut stroke, thus completing the circuit through 48-?) and IS" on the cut stroke and 48a and IS on the return stroke. Lockout coil L-48 assures adequate contact pressure between contacts 48-a when emergency braking is called for on the return stroke. Contacts 15-) close the circuit of coil 48 through protecting resistor 49. Whenever the cut contactor i5 acts to energize the reversing bus TU, contaicts48-\-a open and. contacts 48b close. These contacts are ineffective except on emergency dynamic braking since they do not carry current when ii -a is open.

Contacts 48c establish a. holding circuit to keep coil 48., energized when contactor i5 is deenergized by failure of supply voltage. Contacts 9c short circuit the protective resistor 49 to strengthen the actionaof coil 43 when emergency braking occurs. Contactor 48 is adjusted to drop Emergency dynamic braking is then placed in operation as described above for voltage failure.

The control circuits are protected againstdamagefrom faults by the fuse 5|.

Feed motor 2 is'connected through gearing and a clutch to the sametable drive shaft of the machine to which motor I is coupled direct. To

prevent damage to motor 2, and its gear train,

i is necessary to provide interlocks to prevent operation of motor when motor 2 is mechanical- ]Zjlyconnected to the table drive. As a matter of convenience to the operator, I provide an auto--.

atic' clutch control that requires no attention and precludesthepossibility of accident. This control functions as follows:

'lieferring to Fig -3, is the planer'motor, 2 is the feed motor and 52 is the drive shaft of the machine to be driven. A clutch element 53 is fast to drive shaft 52. A second clutch element 54, which is integral with a gear 54-a is slidably mounted on shaft 52, and is free to rotate on said shaft. A spring 55 is held in place by a collar 56 which is fixed to shaft 52, said spring being adapted to force clutch element 54 into engagement with clutch element 53. A clutch lever, 51 is rotatably mounted on a fixed pin 58. A connectinglink 59 links the lever 51 with a tractive electromagnet 36, in such a manner that the pull of the magnet forces clutch element 54 out of mesh with" clutch element 53, and at the same time. compresses spring 55. Latch 5| is rotatably mounted on a fixed pin 62, and so arranged as to permit clockwise rotation of lever 51 about pin 58, but to prevent counter-clockwise rotation of said lever.

A connecting link 53 links the latch 6| with a second tractive electromagnet 54 in such a manner that the pull of 64 disengages the latch 5| from the clutch lever 51 and allows the spring 55 toforce the clutch element 54 into engagement with clutch element 53, if electromagnet 35 is deenergized.

Electromagnet. 35 is provided with electrical interlock contacts 35--a, which make contact only when the, clutch element 54 is completely disengaged from clutch element 53. The wiring and electrical connections of the tractive electromagnets are shown schematically in Fig. 2 in which 36 and 64 representthe solenoid coils, and 56 and 61 are selector contacts shown in the position for planing. As will be obvious from Fig. 2, electromagnet 36 is energized through contacts 8b and selector contacts 56, and re mains energized as longas the machine is used as a planer. It is also "obvious that in the planing position of the selector the electromagnet 64 cannot be energized, as its circuit is opened by selector contacts 61. Thus, if the supply voltage should fail for any reason, the latch revents the clutch element 54 from jumping into engagement with 53, and thereby causing damage, which might otherwise occur during the dynamic braking cycle of motor 8.

On practically all kinds of steel and on certain other alloys, it is necessary to plane at very slow speeds in order to secure a smooth finish of highgrade. This method of finishing has hitherto had very little practical application because of the expensive and unsatisfactory methods heretofore used in securing the required uniform low speeds on the ordinary commercial planer. My inven- --tion provides means whereby the feed motor -'may be adapted to drive the table during the cut strokes and the planer motor may be adapted to drive it during the return strokes.

To secure this result, the operator moves the selector switch from position A to position" B,

in Fig. 2, the latter being the position for slowplaning. In this position, many of the selector contacts change from the closed to the open position while others change from the open to the closed position.

In order to make the direction of rotation of motor 2 independent of the position of reversing switch 43, and dependent only on the reversing contactors l5'and I8, selector contacts 44 and 45 open while 68 and 69 close, in changing the selector from the planing to the slow planing position. Selector-contacts ID are alsoopen in position B, thus "permitting control of the speed of motor 2.by rheosta't 2-B, because automatic relay-contacts 33-11 are always open when the I causing motor I to operate and drive the table on machine is being controlled by automatic pilot members 21 and 38. Field relay interlock contacts 22-b are opened when the accelerating contactor I9 acts. v

The following additional changes in the selector contacts in Fig. 2 aremade by placing the selector in position B for slow planing. Selector contacts 35, 31, 40 and 66, are now open instead of closed, and selector contacts 61 and I4 are now closed instead of open. All other contacts are as shown in Fig, 2. Slow planing may now be started on the cut stroke by pressing button 23. All contactors and relays function exactly as described for ordinary planing, except that contacts I8-e must close to energize contactor I4 and contacts I5-e must close toenergize con- When table limit switch contacts (pilot switch contacts, 2'l-b open, both contactors I5 and 39 are thereby deenergized and motor 2 stops by dynamic braking. Electromagnet 36 is energized when contactor 39 is deenergized, disengaging clutch 54-53 which in turn closes contacts 36-41. Return contactor I8 became energized when contacts I5-d'closed. Contactor I4 became energized when contacts I8--e and 36-a closed,

the return stroke. Buttons I2 and I3 continue to serve as jog buttons, and operate to jog the table in both cutand return directions with motor I furnishing the driving power.

If it is desired to machine certain parts of the work by milling, the selector is put in the position marked C in Fig. 2. In position C of the selector, all those selector contacts which are closed in position A, are open, and those selector contacts which are open-in position A, are closed in position C, with the exception of contacts 40 and 31, which are alike in both A and C, as shown in Fig. 2.

The jog buttons I2 and I3 continue to function, controlling planer motor I as in the case of ordinary planing and slow planing as described above. The gear shift lever 25, in Fig. 1, must be in position to give the correct gear ratios for milling feeds before it is possible to operate the feed motor 2. When lever 25 (Fig. 1) is manually thrown to the correct position, contacts 25-a open and contacts 25-h close, thus energizing the auxiliary control bus Z. Lever 25 is the mechanical means for changing the gear ratio between motor 2 andthe mechanism driving cross rail feed transmission shaft II (Fig. 1). and also between motor 2 and the table drive gears.

In Fig. 1, 60 is the speed box which houses all the mechanical and electrical equipment shown schematically in Fig. 3. As will be seen in Fig. 2, contactor 39 is always energizedwhen operating as a milling machine, except when motor I is operated to jog the table, at which time it is de-energized by contacts I b and I,6-d. The function of I6--d is to delay the energiting of contactor 39 until the dynamic braking cycle of motor I is complemd. Contactor 39 is again deenergized, stopping motor 2, when pilot mem- Motor 2 then drives the table on the cut stroke.

100k to negative control bus Y. Thus, the

feed motor 2 starts. Inasmuch as coil 28 is deenergized when the normally closed contacts of II are opened, contacts 28- --b are opened and relay 33 is also deenergized and contacts 33-d close, thus providing full excitation for motor 2 during jogging.

The same operations take place when. push button I8 is pressed, except that return contactor I8 acts instead of out contactor I5, and the feed motor 2 thus runs in the return direction.

Electrical interlock I6d prevents the revers ing contactors I5 or I8 from acting when push button 'I'I or 18 is pressed unless the contactor I6 has reacted. A fast working operator might press button I2 or I3 to move the table a few inches in setting a milling cutter, then slide his finger to button 11 or 18 to jog a few thousandths of an inch further with motor 2. If contactor I5 or I8 were allowed to act before contactor I6 reacted, then contacts I6-a would remain closed and motor I would operate and cause damage. Interlock I6-d precludes the possibil ity of energizing either contactor I5 or I8 until the dynamic braking cycle is completed and I6 has reacted, thus preventing any possibility of damage.

Before starting the milling spindle, main line switch 202 must be closed and reversing switch 203 must be closed. It will be obvious to anyone versed in the art that a direct current motor may be substituted for the alternating current motor 3. The alternating current spindle motor is the preferred form.

The milling spindle is started by momentarily pressing button I9 which energizes coil 32 from bus X through stop button II, push button I9, coil 32 and overload relay contacts 8 I-a to negative control bus Y. Contactor 32 acts, closing 32--d, 32-e, and 32f, and motor 3 starts. When the button I9 is released, the coil remains energized through a holding circuit including resistor 80 contact interlock 32--b and contacts 204--a.

To start the table feed, the single pole double throw switch 82 is placed in position as shown in Fig. 2. To feed the table in the out direction, button 23 is pressed. To feed the table in the return direction, button 24 is pressed. Assuming it is desired to feed in the out direction, button 23 is pressed, thus energizing relay 28 in the same way as described for planing and slow planing. When the button is released, coil 28 remains energized, the circuit being from control bus Z through the normally closed contacts 11 and 18, stop relay contacts III-c, resistor 30 the now closed relay contacts 28a, the relay contacts 2I-b which are closed when the accelerating contactor interlock I9b causes relay 2I to act, the interlock 32o which was closed when the spindle motor was started, coil 28, and instantaneous overload relay contacts 29-11, to negativ control bus Y.

Contacts 28b energize relay 33 which closes contacts 33a, 33-h and 33-0. Cut directional contactor I5 is energized, the circuit being from auxiliary control bus Z-through relay contacts 33a and 33c, closed contacts of push button 24, pilot member 2'l-b, selector contacts 31, coil I5, and electrical interlock l8--d, to negative control bus Y, thus closing directional contacts l5b and l5c and energizing the bus VW. Since contactor 39 is always energized when the selector is in the milling position, except when the stop relay III has reacted, or when contactor l6 has acted, the feed motor armature 2 is energized and operates to drive the table in the cut direction at a speed determined by the setting of the rheostat 2-1. The feed motor thus continues to run until the stop button H is pressed, or until the jog button 12 or 13 is pressed, or until jog buttons ll or I3 are pressed, or until return direction button 24 is pressed, or until the table dog operates pilot member 21. An instantaneous overload on the spindle motor of suflicient value to cause overload relay 29 to act will also stop the feed by opening relay contacts 29--a, thus restoring relays 28 and 33, also contactor l5 to the deenergized condition. This is an important advantage gained by my invention as it prevents stalling of the spindle drive motor due to excessive feeds which might cause damage.

It should also be noted that my control prevents milling feed when the spindle drive motor is not running. This is accomplished by electrical interlock 32-c which is in the circuit of coil 28 when the selector is in the milling position. By this means it is not possible to inadvertently feed the work into a stalled cutter, which would cause great damage.

When the table dog strikes pilot member 21 and opens contacts 21--b, directional contactor l5 reacts, followed by the reacting of accelerating contactor l9. Interlock l9b deenergizes relay 2l and opens contacts 2l--b, thus deenergizing coil 28, which causes the automatic feed to discontinue. Thus, my control permits the table dogs and the pilot members to serve two purposes, namely, first to reverse the direction of table travel when planing, and second, acting as safety contact members, to arrest the 'table movement when milling, but eliminating duplication of control devices and thereby efiecting a considerable saving.

It should also be noted that push buttons 23, 24, TI and 18 control the movements of the table for both planing and milling operations and the directional sequence of the buttons is such that if the operator knows how to run the machine as a planer he will, with a few simple instructions, know how to run the machine as a milling machine-also.

The deenergizing of spindle contactor 32 due to the operation of the time element overload thermoelectric relay 8| will cause relay 32 to react and interlock 32-0 to open, and thus stop the feed as well as the spindle.

Failure of the A. 0. supply voltage causes low voltage relay 2 to react which opens contacts 204a causing relay 32 also to react. Contacts 32c open and stop the feed'as previously described.

If it is desired to cross feed the milling head alongthe rail while the table is stationary, the

double pole switch 82 is thrown degrees to the opposite position from that shown in Fig. 2.

table gearing is thus mechanically disconjnected from motor 2. The feed gearing for the gjrr'iilling head is then connected to the feed motor by. a' manually operated clutch not shown, and not forming a part of this invention, and the feed motor 2 is started by pressing buttons 23 or 24, depending on the design of the rail feed mechanism. 1

It will be clearly seen that my control provides a maximum of safety against all contingencies that may possibly result in damage. It also provides a quick, accurate and convenient control for the operator, that enables him to change the machine from a planer to a milling machine, and vice versa, without appreciable loss of production time. It enables the operator to rapidly traverse his work table to any desired position under any. conditions of operation by simply pressing the proper button. It permits the joint use of the more expensive control devices for controlling a number of motors in the desired manner regardless of whether the motors operate alternately or simultaneously, and regardless of the relations of the functions of the motors under the several modes of operation. It also permits a reduction in the number of control buttons required for satisfactory control of the machine in the several modes of operation.

It will be clear to those versed in the art, that various modifications of my control may be adapted to other kinds of machines than that described herein. It will also be .evident that my method of control does not necessarily depend on direct manual operation of the selector or levers and other mechanical parts to change from planing to milling, or one type of operation to another. Push button control may be used whenever it is expedient or desirable, and the necessary mechanical parts be moved by tractive electromagnets or a relatively low speed, control devices for alternately starting and stopping the first and the second motors, pilot control members for actuating the control devices, and a clutch adapted automatically to disconnect the second motor when the first motor acts to drive the work support member and automatically to reconnect the second motor after the first motor has ceased to drive the work support member.

2. In a machine tool, a-work support member, a first motor adapted to move the work support member at a relatively high speed, a second motor adapted to move the work support member at a relatively low speed, means for controlling said motors, and an electrically controlled clutch connected to said means and adapted automatically to disconnect said second motor when said first motor is energized to drive said work support member.

3. In a machine, a movable member, a first motor adapted to move the movable member at relatively high speed, a second motor adapted to move the movable member at relatively low speed, electrical control means connected to said motors and adapted to energize and deenergize the motors, and an electromagnetically operated clutch connected to said electrical control means and adapted to disengage the second motor before the first motor may be energized, and to reengage the second motor after the first motor'is deenergized.

4. In a machine the combination of a plurality of movable elements, a first electric motor for driving one of said elements, a second electric motor for driving another of said elements, prol tective means connected to said first electric motor, control means connected to said second electric motor and means actuated by said protective means for operating the control means of said second electric motor when said protective means is operated.

5. In a milling planer, a work supporting table, and a tool support, means for causing relative movement between said table and said tool support, a first motor adapted to reciprocate the table by reversing its direction of rotation, a second motor adapted to feed the table for milling, control means comprising means for starting, stopping, and controlling the direction of rotation of said motors, and pilot members for actuating said control means, trip means actuated by said relative movement of said table and said tool support, said trip means including dog elements for actuating said pilot members, and selector means having aplurality of positions, said selector adapted when in one position to control said first motor to cause planing action of the table between the said pilot switches, manually operated switches,

and a selector switch, said selector switch adapted when in one position to connect said pilot switches and said manually operated switches to control said first motor for reciprocating said table between the limits determined by said dogs on said pilot members, said selector-switch adapted when in a second position to connect said pilot and said manually operated switches to control said secnd motor for moving said table for feeding betwecn limits determined by the action of "{said dogs on said pilot members. 7. In a milling planer, a work. supporting table, a first motor adapted to reciprocate said table, a second motor adapted to feed said table for milling, and control means for starting, stopping,

and controlling the direction of rotation of the twomotors, said control means including manually operated switches for initiating or stopping predetermined operations of the milling planer,

pilot members cooperating with dogs for controlling the movement of said table, and a selector connected into said control means to obtain any one of a plurality of predetermined operating conditions by one or both of said motors.

8. In a machine tool having a tool support and a work support, said supports being relatively movable with respect to each other, prime movers for each of said relatively movable supports, controller means for each of the said prime .movers, said controller means including pilot devices for actuating said controlling means, means for actuating said pilot devices comprising push button switches for controlling any or all of said prime movers,.and means actuated in accordance with the relative movement of said supports for controlling the operation of certain of said prime movers.

9. In a machine tool having a first tool support for a single pointed tool, a second tool support for a. multiple pointed rotating tool,.and a work support relatively movable to either of 'said' tool supports, a first prime mover forv moving said work support for reciprocation, a second prime mover adapted to move either of said tool supports and said work support for feeding, controller mechanism for controlling the operation vof said prime movers, pilot devices included in said controller mechanism for actuating the said controller mechanism, means for actuating the said pilot devices by the movement of the said supports, and a selector switch included in said controller mechanism for changing the eifects of the actuation of the pilot members on the operation of. the prime movers.

10. In a machine, a plurality of movable elements, a plurality of motors each adapted to drive one or more of the said movable .elements, electrical control means adapted to control the several motors, including a plurality of manually operated pilot switchesand a plurality of auto-' matic pilot switches adapted to be actuated by one or more of the movable elements, electrical circuits interconnecting the parts of the said control means, the said electrical circuits being adapted to be energized by. the operation of the said manually operated and automatically-operated pilot members, and a selector included in the said control means for rearranging selected circuits of the said control means whereby the said pilot switches may be employed to control either one or both of said motors selectively to drive one or more of the said movable elements.

11. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a first electricmotor adapted to drive the shaft at a relatively high speed, a second. electric motor adapted to drive the shaft at a relatively low speed, means for controllingthe energization of the said motors, electrically actuated clutch means, and connections between the said electrically actuated clutch means and the said control means for automatically declutching the said second motor when the said first motor is ener-' gized to drive the said shaft.

12. In a milling planer, a work table, a first motor adapted to drive the table at relatively high speeds adapted for planing, a second motor adapted to drive the table at relatively low speeds suitable/for milling feed, control means 'for controllingtthe energization of said motors, means associated with said table for actuating said control means, said control means including-a selector for rearranging the circuit of said control means so that said table may be operated either as av planer or as a miller selectively by said first and said control means controlled by the displacement.

of said table for energizing and de-energizing certain circuits of said control means to control the operation of said motors, and a selector included in said control means rearranging the circuits of said control means for operating said table either as a planer or as a miller by said motors selectively.

14. In a system adapted to use two motors of unequal power for driving a machine tool, the

combination of a first motor, a second motor, con

trol means connected to said motors for causing said motors to run in either desired direction and for de-energizing said motors, said control means including pilot members for selectively energizing circuits of said control means, and a selector switch adapted to be placed into any one of three positions for rearranging the circuits of said control means according to the position of said selector switch, said selector adapted when in one position to arrange circuits of said control means to cause said first motor to run in one direction and then in the other, under the control of said pilot members, said selector adapted when in a second position to arrange circuits of said control means to cause the first motor to run in one direction and the second motor in the other,direction under the control of the pilot members, said selector adapted when in a third position to arrange circuits of said control means to cause the second motor to run in either desired direction under the control of the pilot members.

15. In a machine, a plurality of movable elements, a plurality of motors each adapted to drive one or more of said movable elements at different speeds, electrical control means adapted to control the several motors, a plurality of pilot switches included in said means, said switches being adapted to be operated by the several movable elements to control the energization of selected circuits of said control means, and a selector included in said control means, said selector having means for rearranging selected circuits of said control means whereby said pilot switches may be employed to control either one or both'of said motors selectively to drive one or more of said movable elements at different speeds to perform work at difierent rates or to perform different work.

16. In a machine, the combination of a plurality of movable working elements, a pluralityof -motors each adapted to drive one or more of said movable elements at different speeds, control means connected to control said motors, said control means comprising a plurality of push button switches, pilot switches, and a selector switch, said selector switch beingconnected into said control means in a manner such that one or more'of said motors may be controlled by said push button switches and said pilot switches to operate one or more of said movable elements at different speeds to perform work at difierent rates or to perform different work.

l7. In a machine tool, a plurality of motors each adapted to actuate certain elements of the machine tool in a predetermined'manner, a plurality ,of control devices, connections between elements of the control devices and terminals of the motors, a selector having a plurality of terminals and movable contacts, circuits connecting elements of the control devices with terminals of said selector, a plurality of pilot members, connections between elements of said pilot members and selected terminals of said selector, said pilot members being positioned to be operated upon predetermined actuation of said machine tool, and means for moving said movable contacts of said select or into predeter 1 mined positions to arrange the circuits between whereby the control actions of said pilot members and said control devices on said motors maybe changed to operate the machine tool to do any one of a predetermined number of operations depending upon the predetermined circuit arrangement selected by said selector.

18. In a machine tool, a plurality of motors each adapted to actuate certain elements of the machine total in a predetermined manner, a plurality of push button switches, connections between said switches and terminals of said motors, a selector having a plurality of terminals and movable contacts, circuits for connecting said switches with terminals of said selector, a plurality of pilot members, connections between elements of said pilot members and selected termi nals of said selector, said pilot members being positioned to be operated upon predetermined actuation of said machine tool, and means for moving said movable contacts of said selector into predetermined positions to arrange the circuits between the terminals of said selector into any one of a plurality of predetermined circuit arrangements whereby the control actions of said pilot members and said switches on said motors may be changed to operate the machine tool to do predetermined work depending upon the predetermined eircuit arrangement selected by said selector.

. 19. .In a machine tool, a plurality of motors each adapted to actuate certain elements of the machine tool, aplurality of control devices, a selector, circuits between terminals of the motors and terminals of the selector, circuits between the elements of the control devices and terminals of the selector, a plurality of pilot members, circuits connecting elements of the pilot members with terminals of the control devices, and movable conductors forming a part of the selector adapted by movement of the selector to change the connections between its terminals, for the purpose of affecting the action of the control devices on the motors.

' 20. In a machine tool, a plurality of motors each adapted to actuate certain elements of the machine tool, a plurality of control devices, a plurality of pilot members, aselector, circuits between elements of the control devices and terminals of the motors, circuits between terminals of the selector and terminals of the motors, circuits between terminals of the control devices and terminals of the selector, circuits between terminals of the pilot members and terminals of the control devices, circuits between terminals of the pilot members and terminals of the selector, and movable conductors forming a part of the selector adapted by movement of the selector to change the connections between its terminals for the purpose of affecting the action of the control devices on the motors and of the pilot members on the control devices.

JOHN E. DORAN. 

